Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson said Tuesday that a suspended attorney has been charged with stealing more than $100,000 from clients he represented in personal injury lawsuits.

Thompson said in a statement, “This defendant allegedly stole from numerous people who had suffered injuries in car accidents or falls and needed their settlement money, in some cases while he was suspended from practicing law.”

The defendant was identified as Kenneth Gellerman, 57, of 2596 Ocean Avenue in Bellmore, L.I. He was arraigned before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on a 61-count indictment.

Gellerman was ordered held on bail set in the amount of $100,000 bond. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

According to the indictment, Gellerman allegedly schemed to embezzle money from more than 15 clients by depositing checks received from negotiated settlements into his escrow account, or into other accounts that he controlled.